It can seem that life’s only constant is change. One season gives way to the next, while relationships and circumstances shift and grow. This is as true for the Society of Jesus as it is for the world.

The new year has brought many exciting developments for the Jesuits, both here in the Midwest and across the globe. This October, the Society of Jesus’ 36th General Congregation will elect a new Superior General to build on the good work of Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ. Delegates from the Midwest are playing a crucial role in preparing for this historic meeting, reminding us that our efforts at home have ripples that extend far beyond our region.

Fr. Thomas Lawler, SJ, in Lima, Peru, with Mr. Jaime Andrade, director of the Peruvian Jesuits’ Office for Development and Procurement

These efforts express the heart of our Society. More than 60 ministries throughout the 12 states of our provinces allow us to serve where the need is greatest. Whether the Jesuits and our lay partners are educating students in our schools, serving the poor in our social ministries, sharing God’s mercy in our parishes, or exchanging hands of friendship with our international partners, our mission — to be men and women with and for others in imitation of Jesus Christ — holds steady in this ever-changing world.

The Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces are faithfully advancing together toward the creation of a new province, a process that will come to final fruition in 2017. The new title and format of our magazine serve as symbols not only of our bond but also of our connection to all Jesuits going back to the time of Saint Ignatius. Our cover story about a Jesuit scholastic donating a kidney to his Jesuit brother beautifully highlights the strength of these ties.

As you enjoy the news items and stories in this issue, you will see further signs that Saint Ignatius’s vision for the Society is alive and well. A Jesuit lawyer, a Jesuit screenwriter, and two Jesuit entrepreneurs might sound like the lead-up to a joke; in reality, it is indication of the many ways Jesuits live out their vocations, meeting people where they are and bringing God’s love wherever they go.

September 13, 2019 — Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. James E. Fitzgerald, SJ, who died on September 12, 2019, at St. Camillus in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was 84 years old. May he rest in peace.

August 27, 2019 — Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Robert C. Thul, SJ, who died on August 25, 2019, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 89 years old. May he rest in peace.